Apparatus for generating or producing gas.



W.-R. DEGENHARDT & W. JORDAN. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING 0R PRODUCING GAS. APPLIOATION FILED NOV.14, 191a.

1,133,010. Patentd Mar; 23, 1915,

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W. R. DEGENHARDT & W. JORDAN.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING 0R PRODUCING GAS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1913.

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AITOIPI V W. R. DEGENHARDT & W. JORDAN. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING 0R PRODUCING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1913.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSE A )Ta W NE r,

WILLIAM nuSs ELL IDEGENHARDT, or KALGooRL IE, AND WILL AM JoRDAN oF YOUANME, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR PRODUCING GAS.

and residents, respectively, of 28 Georgestreet, Kalgoorlie, and Youanme, both in the State of WVestern Australia, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating or Producing Gas, of which the following is a specification.

, This invention relates to certain improve ments in apparatus for generating or pro ducing gas and refers more particularly to a suction gas generator or producer for use in.

conjunction with gas engines or internal combustion motors. The object ofthis invention is to provlde an improved down draft gas generator or producer in which continuous running 1s m sured for long periods without the need of discontinuing the operation thereof for the removal of the spent fuel and ashes or other refuse, and without the use of secondary air cocks or the like. I

We accomplish this object by providing a suction gas generator or producer which comprises a fuel chamber, a combustion chamber and a gas chamber, a special form of fire grate arranged within the bottom of the combustion chamber, a central hollow support for the inner end of the fire bars connected to a novel form of flash vaporizer mounted on a seal pot for supplying superheated steam to the intake of the combustion or generating chamber below the fuel chamber. Openings are provided in the casing of the generating or combustion chamber fitted with doors having poking holes by means bf which the fuel may be sliced and the spent fuel, ashes and clinkers, stirred and removed if necessary through the said doors, while the generator is working and also to enable the fire bars to be raised or lowered when desired, while the said fire bars are so constructed and supported that they can be readily raised and lowered without the ashes lodging under the same and setting them out of alinement. 1

The invention will be now more fully described aided by a reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings in which igure -1 shows the general arrangement of :a' suction gas generator or producer plant, designed for use in conjunction witha gas Specification of Letters Patent. P t te 23, 915 Application filed November 14, 1913. Serial No. 800,965.

engine or internal combustion motor and embodying this invention, the apparatus be-rmg shown connected to scrubbers and an expansion box or boxes from which the gas is drawn to the engine. Fig. 2.1m sectional elevation of the retort or generator which is constructed according to the inventionand shown in Fig. 1. Fig; 3isa section taken on line 22 of Fig. 2. Fig. .4 .isa front elevation partly in section, and Fig. 5 aplan of the retort or generator showing a. modified form of air. and steam distributing chamber. Fig.6 is a plan of the fire grate with the fire bars removed and Fig. 7 1s a sectional, longitudinal section on line 6-16 of 6 with the central hollow bearerin position. 1 c In the accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate a gas generating apparatus constructed according to thismvention A1 is thefuel charging chamber, B. the generating or combustion chamber, C the gas (31121111: ber,-and C the gas discharge tube, leading to the scrubbers N and thence'to the expansion box N before passing tothe motor.:"

According to this invention the generaton or producer .is constructed of cylindrical.

form as shown, the chambers A, B and G lined-with suitable fire bricks or other suit-v able non-combustible material. The fuel charging chamber A is furnished at its top with fuel feed openings A fitted withre-m movable covers A while in the bottom of the generating chamber B is fitted the firegr'ate D having fire bars D, below which is the gas chamber C furnished with a refuse discharge C dipping into the water lute G, and an ash door C fitted to the side 'of the chamber C. a i The fire grate frame D is-constructed *as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, having a central opening therein somewhat in the form of an ellipse in order to lessen the liability of the put them out of alinement. The outer ends of the said fire bars D are supported on the grate frame D inside the aforesaid annular flange or rib D as shown in Fig. 2.

The hollow bearer D passes through the casing of the chamber B and at each end is supported in a suitable stuthng box or gland D in order to allow for expansion or contraction. Une end of this hollow bearer D is open to atmosphere while its other end is connected by the pipe D to the vaporizer F, thus allowing a continuous current of air to be drawn through the bearer D for cooling the same, and also for supplying heated air to the vaporizer F.

The seal pot is arranged at the side of the apparatus and is constructed somewhat T shaped as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, one end of the same being connected to the gas discharge tube C and its other end is connected through the scrubbers N and expansion box N to the suction pipe of the gas engine or internalcombustion motor (not shown) while the vertically arranged portion E of the seal pot E is adapted to dip into the water lute, G. A baffle plate or defiector E is mounted in the top portion of the seal pot E to intercept the gas from the chamber C to enable any ash or other like substance to be collected in the water lute G in which the water is maintained at a certain level.

The flash vaporizer F is formed on the top of the seal pot E as shown and as before stated is connected by the pipe D to the hollow bearer D A continuous water supply is fed to the vaporizer through the funnel F mounted on the pipe D in order to produce superheated steam for distribution inside the upper portion of the combustion chamber B.

The superheated steam and heated air is drawn from the vaporizer F to an annular chamber or reservoir H mounted on the top of the generating chamber, by the pipe F as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and i, and from thence the heated air and superheated steam is drawn into the generating chamber B through a series of holes H formed in the top of the same, enabling the superheated steam to be evenly distributed about the chamber B. The delivery pipe F is furnished with the necessary regulating valve F while on the said seal pot E is mounted a vent pipe E and cook E Aseries of vertically arranged pipes K are supported by the top of thechamber A and extend downwardly through the said chamber A into the chamber B and are adapted to permit atmospheric air to be drawn into the chamber B. About the top portion of the said generating chamber B is a series of holes B fitted with removable plugs 13 These holes enable ash and refuse to be scraped off the top of the brick lining of the chamber B and are also adapted to admit atmospheric air to the said chamber by removing the plugs in order to regulate the combustion of the fuel as desired. When lighting the fire in the chamber B it is necessary to create a draft therein and for this purpose a suitable fan or blower Q is mounted on or connected to the air delivery pipe F Or in place of the fan 0 compressed air may be forced into the said pipe F At each side of the chamber B and at a position slightly above the fire grate D are openings L (preferably three upon each side) fitted with removable doors L. These openings L are adapted to enable the spent fuel and ashes or other refuse to be cleaned and sliced or removed as desired. These doors L are also furnished with poking holes L over which are arranged suitable swinging covers L thus enabling the poking bars to be inserted in order to poke or stir the fire without having to open the door L.

The fire bars D are so supported in the fire grate D that their ends are capable of so being raised and lowered by means of a bar passed through the poke holes L or through the openings L and then replaced in their proper position without fear of obstruction by ashes.

About the upper portion of the generating chamber B are four or more sight openings M to ascertain how the burning of the fuel is progressing.

The cycle of operation is as follows The seal pot being connected upon one side. by means of the scrubbers N and expansion box N to the suction of the engine, and upon the other side to the gas chamber C below the fire grate, the suction of the said engine causes air to be drawn throu l hollow bearer D into the flash vapor into which is fed a continuous v drip, thus producing superheated steam which together with heated air is drawn into the chamber H at the top of the genc ing or combustion chamber B. This he and superheated steam is drawn don i through the fuel in the combustion ch B, and the resultant gases are through the fire grate into the c C and thence through the scrubber expansion box N to the internal combustion engine or motor. Any ashes or other eign substance entering the gas chamb or seal pot E is collected in the wet. G, while any tarry matter will be col in the scrubbers N. In charging and so... iing the generator the top covers or doors A and the slicing doors L are opened. A good re is started on the fire grate, the draft be ing regulated by the opening and closing of the slicing doors L. The waste gases escape from the seal F through its vent-pipe E the cock E being opened for this purmentioned, including the holes B in the generator B and the cock E are closed, and the vent cocks on the scrubbers N and expansion boxes N are opened. If desired, in order to blow up the fire the hand fan 0, mounted on the pipe F is operated, at first very gently, until the fire is well alight, and then the same is operated at a much greater speed to increase the draft. As soon as the engine starts running all the plugs B are inserted in the holes B on the top of the chamber B, and more fuel is fed to the,

chamber A to Within about a foot from the top of the same. The water drip is then admitted into the flash vaporizer F through the funnel F and pipe D the quantity of water being regulated to suit the moisture in the fuel. Fresh fuel is added at intervals of about one hour and the fire poked by means of a suitable bar inserted through the holes L in the doors L, the time of poking the fire being arranged so as not to clash with the time of adding the fuel. The fire bars are agitated once in about every four hours in order to allow ashes or the like to be deposited into the water lute G. This is carried out by suitable pinch bars being inserted through the holes L in the doors L, and passed under the end of the fire bars in order to raise and lower the same. These pinch bars are then used for slicingthe fire and distributing the incandescent fuel over the fire bars. Any clinkers or the like which have been drawn toward the openings L during the poking operation are removed by opening the doors L Only one of these doors L should be opened at a time, but we have found that one of them may be-left open for a period of 3 or 4 minutes with impunity, while the engine or motor is working under a full load.

We claim 1. A gas generator or producer comprising in combination a generating chamber having a superimposed fuel chamber, a grate at the bottom, a gas chamber beneath the said grate, an annular air supply chamber arranged at the top of the said generating chamber and a vaporizer connected to the said annular air supply chamber substantially as described.

2. A gas generator or producer, comprising in combination a generating chamber having a superimposed fuel chamber, a grate at the bottom of said generating chamber, having fire-bars and a hollow bearer for said bars, an annular air-supply chamber arranged at the top of said generating chamber, and a water-drip vaporizer for supplying superheated steam to the air-supply for the generator, connected to said hollow bearer.

3. A gas generator orproducer comprising in combination a generating chamber having a superimposed fuel chamber, a grate at the bottom, a gaschamber beneath the said grate, an annular air supply chamber arranged at the top of the said generat5 ing chamber, the top of said generating chamber being provided with a plurality of openings communicating with said annular air-supply chamber, and a vaporizer connected to the said annular air supply chamber substantially as described. 7

4. A gas generator or producer comprising in combination a generating chamber having a superimposed fuel chamber, agrate at the bottom, a gas chamber beneath the said grate, an annular air supply chamber arranged at the top of the said generating chamber, and a vaporizer connected to the said annular air supply chamber, said generating chamber having openings in its wall, and covers for said openings, and said covers having openings therein for the insertion of poking rods, substantially as described.

5. A gas generator or producer comprising the combination of a fuel chamber A having feed openings with covers, a generating chamber B, having 'openings 'in the sides thereof provided with covers having holes for poking rods and openings B formed in the side of the chamber casing and fitted with removable plugs for the admission of air, .a gas chamber C, a grate D, having a central hollow bearer D for the fire bars, a seal pot E, an annular air supply chamber H arranged at the top of the generator having air inlets arranged around the same, and a vaporizer F, connected to the said hollowbearer and annular air supply chamber, all,

Witnesses:

NORBUT KEENAN, G. S. JOHNSTONE.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

